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Bruins at Islanders: Preview, Lineups & More

By Scott Roche |
TORONTO, ONTARIO – AUGUST 12: Josh Bailey #12 of the New York Islanders celebrates his short-handed goal at 6:52 of the third period against the Washington Capitals and is joined by Brock Nelson #29 in Game One of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on August 12, 2020 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ONTARIO – AUGUST 12: Josh Bailey #12 of the New York Islanders celebrates his short-handed goal at 6:52 of the third period against the Washington Capitals and is joined by Brock Nelson #29 in Game One of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on August 12, 2020 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

After splitting their first two games of the season against the New Jersey Devils, the Boston Bruins wrap up their season-opening, three-game road trip Monday on Long Island against the New York Islanders at the Nassau Coliseum.

While the Bruins were getting three out of a possible four points against the Devils, the Islanders got mixed results against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden in their first to games. They won the season opener 4-0 last Thursday, before the Rangers returned the favor Saturday night with a 5-0 victory.

The Bruins have had a lot of success against the Islanders as of late. They are 7-1-2 in their last 10 games and have won nine of their last 10 games played on the road at either the Barclays Center in Brooklyn or Long Island. The last NYI win at home against Boston was in 2013.

The Black and Gold enter the game banged up with their forwards and coach Bruce Cassidy will be dealing with different combinations for the third game in a row.

Bruins won’t have an easy time solving their 5-on-5 scoring issues.

Through the first six periods of the season, the Bruins have yet to score 5-on-5. New Jersey goalie Mackenzie Blackwood frustrated the Bruins in the first two games, but Boston failed to capitalize on several rebounds left by the Devils netminder.

Things won’t get easier Monday. Ondrej Kase is “doubtful” for the game and Smith did not practice Sunday in New Jersey before the Bruins headed to Long Island, but Cassidy expects him to be available today. The Bruins shuffled their lines at practice Sunday in preparation to be without some key components today.

If Kase is out, rookie Jack Studnicka would find himself back in the lineup after being scratched Saturday. Studnicka began the first game on the right wing with Brad Marchand and Patrice Bergeron, but did not have his best showing Thursday night.

Here is what the projected Bruins lineup could look like,

Marchand-Bergeron-DeBrusk

Ritchie-Krejci-Studnicka

Bjork-Coyle-Smith

Frederic-Kuraly-Wagner

McAvoy-Lauzon

Carlo-Grzelcyk

Zboril-Miller

Rask (Halak)

If Smith is unable to go, Greg McKegg could take his spot in the lineup and make his Bruins debut after he skated on the third line in practice Sunday. Fun times!!

The Islanders could be without No. 1 goalie Semyon Varlamov who was hurt in warmups prior to Saturday’s game and backup Ilya Sorokin made his NHL debut in the loss. He made 27 saves on 32 Rangers’ shots. Former Boston College goalie Corey Schneider was signed on Friday by the Isles to a one-year at $700,000 for depth.

Here are is the probable lineup for the Islanders,

Lee-Barzal-Eberle

Beauvillier-Nelson-Bailey

Komarov-Pageau-Bellows

Martin-Cizikas-Clutterbuck

Pelech-Pulock

Dobson-Mayfield

Leddy-Greene

Varlamov (Sorokin)

Game information

Date: 1/18

Time: 5 p.m.

Where: Nassau Coliseum, Long Island, N.Y.

TV: NBCSN, NESN, MSG+

Radio: 98.5 The Sports Hub

Next. Bruins: Kase doubtful for Monday against Islanders. dark

The Bruins will find it tough against the Islanders and their defensive scheme, but if they can solve their 5-no-5 scoring issues and take advantage of their recent success against the NYI, then they can come home for Thursday night’s home opener against the Philadelphia Flyers with five points to begin the season.

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